This was the source tape for many songs that appeared on Europe 72, including China>Rider and Tennessee Jed.

The sound is near-perfect and the performance is stunningly excellent. A top notch show from a great tour.

This is my favorite show of tour anyway. They were
really sounding good.

I just saw a thing on youtube where Donna tells about coming out of an LSD fog. She had crawled under Keith's piano then suddenly realized, "Oh yeah, I sing with this band."

I guess their stash from Owsley they brought from the US was getting stale. You supposedly needed 15 hits to get the usual effect. When a fresh batch caught up with the tour nobody told Doinna. She sang this show on 15 hits of Owsley's best!

Still sounds good though.

Nice interview here Touring with the Dead, Donna Godchaux, Betty Cantor Jackson

*****

There are times where this recording sounds like it was done in a recording studio. Very close to perfection here. A+++

Might be the best harmonizing and ensemble singing from any era of the Grateful Dead.
If Alvin and the Chipmunks got dosed the result would be Europe 72.
And I really dig the He's Gone!
Reviews all pretty much on track maybe a little harsh on the Good Lovin.
Pig's strongest contributions of the night probably Chinatown and Hurt's me Too.
The so called 'meat'here is Filet Mignon.
A wild ride for the Other One!

My favorite He's Gone* and a nice Bobby McGee are standouts from a very good show.
The China Cat is well known and always considered favorably. The same applies to NFA.

All of these April and May shows contain standout versions.
Minus the Dark Star's and Other One's these are other highlights:

4/8 OMSN*
4/11 Good Lovin', Ramble*, Truckin'
4/14 Looks Like Rain
4/26 IKYR*, Comes A Time
5/10 Tennessee*
5/11 Jack
5/23 Promised, Mexicali, Dark Star, Dew, UJB*
5/26 Truckin'*

Bertha
MAMU
Mr. Charlie, having been sufficiently warmed up in the first two songs, Jerry nails his solo, and Pig is in good voice. Fun version.
Sugaree
BTW
Chinatown Shuffle, Jerry is clearly enjoying the Pigpen songs today! Keith puts in a nice solo.
China>Rider, great transition, the segue into Rider is pretty much perfect. The Rider itself is also great, keeps up a nice rhythm and the vocal peaks are perfect.
BIODTL is actually one of the better ones I’ve heard, and like all of us, that’s a lot of them.
He’s Gone, great tempo.
Next Time You See Me, Jerry again excels in this blues rendition.
PITB, while not as long as those in the coming couple of years, this version is fully Jerry driven and enjoyable! The highlight of the set thus far! A nice bit of X Factor for the French. A+ version.
TN Jed, great! Keeps things in the X realm!
Good Lovin’, Pigpen does a lot of mumbling, rather incoherent Good Lovin’.
Sing Me Back Home
Casey Jones

GSET is spot on, as usual, to bring the 2nd set in with a bang.
Ramble On
It Hurts Me Too kind of messes up the momentum that had been gained, but there is a great Jerry solo.
Truckin>Space>TOO>Drums>TOO>Bobby McGee>TOO>Wharf Rat
Ah, the meat. The Truckin’ starts off slow, but they push the energy up here and it ends on a strong note. Out of the explosion this goes directly into a spacey segment, which doesn’t do a lot before lulling its way into TOO, which I think was listed prematurely on the release… still just space really. There are some Phil bombs just before the 9 minute mark, where they finally are fully on theme. It’s not a very exciting TOO up till the 10th minute where they achieve the tempo TOO is known for as they approach the verse. First they do another short detour into space before resuming energy and singing the verse. After a quick drum session Phil comes back out, to be followed by the rest shortly thereafter. TOO theme returns for some more jamming, and then Bill gets his break, but the tempo of this space stays up, making it quite enjoyable. It’s really mainly Jerry that pushes it, and his work here is great. Phil does deserve credit for supplying bombs are regular intervals to provide the loom in which Jerry wove. Nestled in nicely, Bobby McGee is sweet, and of course Billy is back. They then take a 3rd trip to TOO to close it out before Wharf Rat takes over almost immediately after the verse. Great little jam in here with Jerry floating on Phil and Billy’s dreamlike rhythm. Bob Weird deserves mention here as well, filling in aggressively, which drives the power.
Jack Straw is fun, more a psychedelic version than a hard rocker.
Sugar Magnolia
NFA>GDTRFB>NFA
Feeling motivated, Bob is ready to belt out another NFA. Pig’s organ is finally actually detectable, for perhaps the first time in the show. Jerome is on and this well-oiled machine of set rolls into GDTRFB, great version, leaving you feeling great.
OMSN


Performance Summary
The 1st set is kind of hit and miss, with a stand out PITB. They play nicely, but the set isn’t really intense and the Good Lovin’ is a disaster. The 2nd set is much more consistent, with a nice psychedelic edge to a good portion of it.

Sound Quality
A+ for official release.

Everyone here is dead-on accurate - Chris, you nailed it - the best they ever sounded. Its one of those shows that gets people eager to comment - as good as the follow-up the next night and another in a long, long string of perfection-masterpieces through the tour. Maybe not as outright *funky* as 5/4, but who cares? Too many highlights to list 'em all, but here's a couple of notes:

*China Cat > Rider. It's clear why they chose this one to go on Europe '72; it's the harmonies. Listen to them so gently and delicately line up on IKYR - they're a pure and total cowboy group!
*Playin' is as red-hot-tight as ever. Crank it UP -
*Good Lovin' doesn't really explore that crazy-funky groove that typifies so much of this tour (check 5/25!) but plays with a hot, jazzy space well-enough; Pig's showcase for the night.
*You want to hear a band absolutely and totally in charge of the music they are playing? Check that GSET set 2 opener - my god, they never did this tune better than over this spring!
*The big suite, from Truckin' to Wharf Rat, *has* to be heard. At least two portions of that Other One jam have just Bobby, Phil, and Billy exploring that innerspace - one listen to Bobby in particular shows why he was the strangest, most sublime rhythm guitarist there ever was. Brav-o, Weir.
*Jack Straw has long been my personal favorite of all the Dead's songs, and this one is very special to me. Placed right at the heels of that burned-down Rat, it emerges like a phoenix and tells its tale. Like Rider, this one is about the harmonies - listen to them join in on the finale - it sounds strangely disjoined from the music, yet right in line at the same time. Emotionally staggering stuff here.

If you can't get a hold of this board, the big boxed set sounds pretty good for this show.

I think this may be the Mr. Charlie from E72 as well. A fun song that unfortunately was shelved after Pig passed. A rare show in which every song is performed with both precission and intensity when in most cases one is sacrificed for the other. Master board recording from 16 track 2 inch reel is just bitchin.

Excellent recording of a superb performance.

And who says it cannot be downloaded? Email me (mklsgl@comcast.net) for easy instructions.

- Michael

that was a great concert. One more sat night was superb. Awesome just awesome. Too bad we can't download this though. I want it on cd.

some of you might find this interesting if you didnt already know it: Europe '72's packaging was designed by Alton Kelly and Stanley Mouse. The front cover shows a large Truckin' boot crossing the Atlantic, while the back cover depicts the corresponding Truckin' fool smashing an ice cream cone against his forehead. (Some of the ice cream flying through the air spells out the word "LIVE".) The ice cream to the forehead happened while Kelley was in New Haven, Connecticut. Kelley, Bill Brockett, Franz Douskey and Bill Ness used to hang out together. One night, after buying ice cream at Clark's Dairy, on Whitney Avenue, Bill Brockett took his cone and smashed it on his forehead. The image stuck and Kelley used the image on the Live album. I'm not sure where this story came from but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. Kelley did live in Connecticut for a while. Heres a pic of the place where it all went down. Funny how some little Dairy in New Haven can somehow be connected to shows they played thousands of miles away.

http://home.flash.net/~ral1/starbucks/bigimages/DSCN7854.jpg

http://opendoornumberfour.blogspot.com/2010/05/so-long-clarks-dairy.html

I have no idea how anyone can pick a favourite of this run! Granted I haven't heard every show in this run yet, but the standard of excellence from one show to the next is outstanding. Every song is played to perfection. The OO is absolute amazing as the band weaves in and out. A relatively short Playin' is another standout performance.

All I know is I keep coming back to this recording because every so often I just need to hear the 2nd set jam. This is definitely my favorite version of The Other One. And Sugar Mag > Not Fade Away just crackles with energy. The boys probably didn't realize it at the time, but this could be the high point of it all....

Played on Yamaha receiver w/direct source through bi-wired Paradigm Monitor 9 speakers. Superb sound quality with a nice tight performance throughout. My highlights from set 1 are the "next Time" which is so crisp and well played could have easily made the record. Jam out of playin gets pretty intense, those poor Parisians probably did not know what hit them, up until that point they had been hearing a rolly-polly bar band, then Whammo, welcome to GD world. "Sing me back home" is one of the best versions I have ever heard w/ great Jerry vocal, nice and tight. "Greatest" rips to open the 2nd set. "Hurts me to" is nothing short of fantastic. Bobby is one of rocks most underrated guitarists, his accompaniment hear is stellar, but you have to really pay attention. The "Truckin" on the record is a little tighter into the jam, but this one still gets tasty, real avante-garde, like Miles Davis' late 60's stuff. Phil is maniacal in the latter half of the 2nd set, so much so I think he needs a sedative. The tension at the beginning of "Other One" is really, really cool. The rest of the band seems to be fighting him as he wants to start the tune, really nice contrast of sounds, awesome. Finally Phil and Bobby lock and Jerry comes in riding the wave F. . . ing amazing! Eventually they sandwich "Bobby Mcgee", one of the best tunes of the era between "Other One" madness. Beautiful. The "Wharf Rat" is superlative w/ a nice clear Jerry Vocal once more. The is a very long and very good concert from sound quality through performance, probably one of the year's better. The only distraction is actually the overdubbed stuff from the album. I would prefer to hear the un-edited stuff, if it is even available? These tunes are "China/Rider" "Jack Straw" and "Jed". I recommend just skipping over these cuts. Peace, and thanks to the archive.

Tenn. Jed, China-rider, these are the edited remastered versions on Europe 72. Strange to find it on a "SBD". WTF, this is GOOD.

"Olympia Theater in Paris just like the Fillmore East, if anything, a bit more funky. Tradition-riddled place. Everyone keeps saying how special it is because of who's played here: the Stones, the Who, Pfaf, Aznavour...Hallowed ground, but with insufficiant electricity." Rock Scully

A stunningly beautiful performance, the band seems thrilled to be in Paris. The vibe of this show (and the following night), is entirely different from the three preceding performances in West Germany. These being a bit more layed back and jazzy, in slight contrast to the precision and wild intensity of the three German performances.

Sourced from the "Honeymoon Theft" tapes, the sound quality of the Masse source is extraordinarily good, featuring what might be the finest sound quality of the entire tour.

This high-energy show smokes from start to finish, each song exploratory yet flawlessly played. Bertha, China/Rider (on Europe '72), Sugaree and Sing Me Back Home are dynamite. Virtually every song played at this performance is a candidate for best of the tour, with One More Saturday Night and Jack Straw (on Europe '72) being possible best-ever renditions. Pigpen also shines, performing five songs.

The first set is excellent, but this second set jam suite is extraordinary, the amazing Other One rivaling the incredible performance in Frankfurt one week earlier; An intense Truckin' slips into an eerily quiet passage before Bobby and Phil again revisit the georgeous theme they explored in Aarhus (4/16/72). This time Phil is a bit more persistent though, eventually leading the way into a more structured Other One Jam. It's all hands on deck before yet another quiet passage featuring some sublime chord by Bob Weir, punctuated by a second jazzy visit to The Other One theme. A drum break preceeds an ultra-jazzy Phil solo accompanied by some snappy drums. This one sounds like Jimmy Blanton and Gene Krupa. The balance of the first reprise is a wonderfully jazzy combination of intense Jerry/Keith duets and more lovely Weir/Lesh interplay. Still not finished with the theme, the second verse/reprise follows a soulfull Bobby McGee. NFA> GDTRFB> NFA is superb as well. Another amazing performance and one of the very best shows of the tour! (99 pts)

Exellent performance and a nice crispy soundboard transfered by Mr. Dick's picks himself. God rest his soul.

don't let this one pass by. get it while 'ya can! the next nite is a keeper too.

I feel spoiled. The archive is amazing. Thank you to everyone of you audiophiles who are so dedicated to fixing these old boots!
Great show, I think I remember reading in Skully's book "Living with the Dead" something about when they were in Paris on this tour. I think the band & family had spent a few days wandering around Paris in a chemical cloud, going to The Louvre and what not. Its apparent their having a great time.
Show starts off superb Bertha & MMU. Picks up with the China Cat (the honeymoon source is warmly received here) the vocal harmonies are so good in IKYR that I get goose bumps, no shit. IHMT is amazing and sweet.
...and then there is the second set......
too much! I love this band

i've been listening my way through '72 and this is my favorite overall show so far.

great song choice and perfect sound

clear sbd, thank you!!

Just so there is no confusion (and clearly some people are confused): the versions of China->Rider, Jed, and also Jack Straw (if I'm not mistaken) are the Europe 72 album versions, i.e., versions that were re-edited and "perfected" in the studio, with emphasis on the vocals.

This is a great show. But the next night is even better.

Yes, it is, and it is a grandly speedy version featuring some of the band's best-ever singing.

Mysteries abound as to which version of what song was used for the classic 1972 vinyl release, but there is no question that this is the China Rider, and I like how it had the Chinatown Shuffle proceed it.

Chinatown Shuffle is a song rarely discussed. I witnessed their initial performances of this song at Winterland, 12/31/71 & 1/2/72.

Standing out in the middle of the floor for both versions, I only recall that I liked the song both times, even though I did not know what the song title was and didn't find out what the song title was until 30 years later.

Sort of a nondescript throw in song that because of its unfamiliarity was largely overlooked. Pigpen, sick as he was, makes an incredibile difference in his contribution to this band's overall sound -- some other thing one may not realize until 30 years later.

This is a marvelously juicy SBD -- accurate separation and clarity, a classy capture and representation of the Dead in that, their 7th year. There seems very little pretense displayed in this performance, and even less, sonically described.

There are few flaws in the opening set, if any, and every tune is passionately delivered with precision. Donna is divine.

In fact, this is starting to sound too perfect!

Hmmm, this concert starts out sounding so slick.
Sounds like a compilation.

And, Is this not also the Europe 72 version of Tennessee Jed? Yes, maybe, perhaps, but it is not listed in the track sheet. Is the track sheet inaccurate, or did they perform this song on this night?

Some would speculate this version is from another night. My thoughts? Perhaps the track sheet is wrong and they played TennJed on this night, Or Listen closely and you may hear that the recorded tone is very similar. Or, was it thus, similarly, every night? I perceive it may have been.

Well...after all...they were recording ev'ry night for a live album. Was it possible to sound so ev'ry night same? Yes, no, what?

What is this? Are these dubbed together from other sources as one show, or is this the show?

What the hell, whether or well, this assemblage of songs just flat out cuts heads!

A brilliant show from stem to stern!

...Rendering us thus ... speechless,


.........................


.................

Anyone else hear a STRONG Traffic-sounding guitar in "Greatest Story"? Towards the end of the song, I literally thought I was listening to Traffic.
James (Ala)

This one's a keeper add it to your collection don't delay, listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD and have a nice day...

Pigpen sings 5 songs. The boys must have been feel'n alright this night, Pigpen sings GOOD LOVIN' and it's out-of-sight.

33 songs performed live, light up the STARS 1,2,3,4,5!

5 star recording.
5 star mix
5 star performance.

1972 was so cool, it was a great time to be alive; sorry if you missed it. I didn't.

Listen carefully to what these guys were doing "way back" then...NO ONE WAS DOING WHAT THESE GUYS WERE DOING.

Feed your head with the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Get it while you can, get it while it's free. Get it now or you'll be sorry.

Eat, drink, be merry and listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE.

smokin sync on the vocals

Other One is out of this world.

Great sound, thanks!!! Oh to have been there.

This version is much better than the other one (version, that is). The channels are flying around everywhere on the other soundboard (annoying, but strangely trippy!).
The Sing Me Back Home just kills me everytime, with the sweet organ playing lowly in the background and Jerry... just doing what Jerry does! I swear to God that man finds a way to blow my mind every day! The Other One is from a galaxy far, far away and just when you think you can't possibly take any more... they sucker punch you with Me and Bobby McGee so sweetly! I'm only going to say this about the China>Rider : There is a reason this was the one chosen for the album! Many highlights and a great sounding board make for one of Europe ' 72's top ten; Top five maybe. Download this along with 4/8, 4/14, 5/11, and 5/26. These shows along with Hundred Year Hall and Rockin' the Rhein will pretty solidly cover your bases for Europe ' 72. Namaste!

what a great show. I have to say thank you for a GREAT resource. I'm completely grateful.

I'll answer my own question. This (shn 142) is *not* plagued with digital noise. It is clean except for a very minor zap or two, but nothing that remotely matters. I seeded the other source with the channels that are all over the place because, per the public comments, I thought this had major problems. Turns out it doesn't, therefore this is the best source available for d/l.

This is the Dead at their best. This show has a Steely Dan quality to it. Perfection. How anyone could give this show anything less the 5 stars is beyond me. This show is on my top 5 list.

I think this copy of the show has a fuller sound than the other version currently available on the archive. There is a small dropout a couple seconds into the final Other One reprise. This doesn't appear on the other source, and I was able to patch it pretty well with cheap software I found on the internet. I'm sure somebody who actually knows what they're doing and with access to good software could fix this flaw so that it was unnoticeable.

Regardless of the source, I still think this show is great.

The other version of this show has problems with left and right channel. This one is pure CLEAN.

Best Hurts Me Too (slide guitar) like Rooster